Top 5 Fantasy Football Rookies for 2016

The 2016 NFL Draft is over, and as we begin to gear up for the new season, we thought it was time to look at some of the new names likely to be on your draft board.



1. Ezekiel Elliott, RB - Dallas Cowboys
Get to know this name as he's likely to go in the first or second round. Even though the Cowboys could have really used a defensive player, Elliott is too good to pass up as the 4th overall pick in the draft. At 6 feet 225 lbs and with one of the best offensive lines in the league, Ezekiel Elliott has the potential to have fantasy impact right away.

2. Derrick Henry, RB - Tennessee Titans
He's big. He's fast. He's won the Heisman Trophy. He's also going to compete with DeMarco Murray for the top spot on the depth chart. The Titans are determined to build around Marcus Mariota and Henry offers a bruising 1-2 punch with Murray in keeping defenses honest. The fact that Tennessee drafted Henry isn't surprising. What's surprising is that the Alabama product fell to the 45th overall pick. There's no denying his fantasy potential, but a running back-by-committee situation could limit his value.

3. Kenneth Dixon, RB - Baltimore Ravens
Who's the boss in the Baltimore backfield? That's a good question with no obvious answer. Both Justin Forsett and Buck Allen are there but neither one was worth writing home about last year. Trent Richardson and Lorenzo Taliaferro are also there but likely won't be considered in even the deepest of fantasy drafts. Taken in the fourth round, the Ravens made a great pick with Dixon. The guy basically rewrote the record books at Louisiana Tech and is considered by many to be one of the top 5 running backs on the board. He may not have fantasy relevance out of the gate, but there's potential there.

4. Sterling Shepard, WR - New York Giants
The Giants took Oklahoma's Sterling Shepard in the second round with the 40th overall pick. He should be a fantastic compliment to Odell Beckham Jr. particularly when lining up in the slot. It may take a bit for Eli Manning to get comfortable with him, but once he does, we anticipate plenty of dumps and quick routes going Shepard's way. It will be exciting to see what this kid can accomplish.

5. Laquan Treadwell, WR - Minnesota Vikings
Laquan Treadwell is a big guy with great hands and explosive speed. Both Cris Carter and Jerry Rice had positive things to say about the rookie. The only drawback we have to Treadwell is Teddy Bridgewater and the failed promises of wide receivers in Minnesota over the past few years. We have been burned by Cordarrelle Patterson but found redemption in Stefon Diggs. Treadwell has plenty of upside but it's tied to Teddy.

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